Prostaglandins, Indomethacin and the Decidual Cell Reaction in the Mouse Uterus

• Published in: Biology of reproduction Vol. 20; no. 2; pp. 399 - 404
• Main Authors: Rankin, J C, Ledford, B E, Jonsson, Jr, H T, Baggett, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Society for the Study of Reproduction 01-03-1979
• Subjects: Animals; Decidua - drug effects; Embryo Implantation - drug effects; Female; Indomethacin - pharmacology; Mice; Nucleotides, Cyclic - metabolism; Organ Size - drug effects; Prostaglandins F - metabolism; Uterus - anatomy & histology; Uterus - drug effects; Uterus - metabolism
• ISSN: 0006-3363; 1529-7268
• DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod20.2.399

A uterine decidual cell reaction (DCR) was induced in hormone-primed ovariectomized mice by
injection of 10 µl of sesame oil or by crushing 1 uterine horn with hemostats (trauma). Either
stimulation led to a rapid elevation (within 15 min) of the cAMP level in the stimulated horn.
Rapid proliferation of decidual cells began 30 h after stimulation. Oil stimulation also resulted in
a 6-fold increase in cGMP levels in both the stimulated and unstimulated uterine horns within 15
min. Pretreatment with indomethacin blocked the oil-induced cyclic nucleotide increases and the
subsequent DCR. Pretreatment with indomethacin did not, however, completely prevent the
increase in cAMP and decidualization in the uterine horns stimulated by crushing.
Prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α ) levels were measured following oil and trauma stimulation of the
DCR. With either treatment, there was a rapid (within 5 min) 10-fold increase in PGF 2α levels in
the stimulated horn. Pretreatment with indomethacin abolished this increase.